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Fall 2011
Dear
Colleague,
The start of another fall season brings with it the
beautiful landscape of colorful leaves, bountiful harvest, and cooler
temperatures as autumn offers its usual change and transformation. Autumn is a
great example of the positive effects of change and significant impact
transformation can bring. It tells a compelling story and paints a vivid
picture through nature. Change represents progress yet more often than not, it
is met with some resistance. Many times it comes from concern or fear of the
unknown impact the change may bring to oneself and/or others. While we cannot
control or predict what changes will be presented to us, one thing is for
sure
the only constant today is change!
Managing Change
We are faced with changes on a regular basis changes
in our economy, marketplace, industries, organizations, technologies, as well
as management/people changes in our companies. When we can get comfortable with
this fact and wake up every day embracing and welcoming change, we actually
open ourselves up to never-ending opportunities and possibilities! I think the
chorus of the Loggins & Messina song "Changes"
says it best:
"Maybe some change Is all
that we need Change is coming to help us succeed Change happens every
day"
In fact, managing change effectively is an essential
leadership skill today. Not only is it required of leaders and managers but as
individuals we all play a critical role in executing effective change. Many of
my client engagements this year have been focused around helping individuals
and teams effectively manage change. The dynamics of change are quite complex
with many internal and external forces at work. John Kotter, the leadership and
management expert, provides a practical guide for leading organizational change
that includes the following steps:
Kotter's Eight
Steps for Leading Organizational Change By: John Kotter
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Establish a sense of urgency
Unfreeze the organization by creating a compelling reason for why change is
needed.
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Create the guiding coalition
Create a cross-functional, cross-level group of people with enough power to
lead the change.
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Develop a vision and strategy
Create a vision and strategic plan to guide the change process.
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Communicate the change vision
Create and implement a communication strategy that consistently communicates
the new vision and strategic plan.
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Empower broad-based action
Eliminate barriers to change, and use target elements of change to transform
the organization. Encourage risk taking and creative problem-solving.
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Generate short-term wins Plan
for and create short-term "wins" or improvements. Recognize and reward people
who contribute to the wins.
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Consolidate gains and produce more change
The guiding coalition uses credibility from short-term wins to
create more change. Additional people are brought into the change process as
change cascades throughout the organization. Attempts are made to reinvigorate
the change process.
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Anchor new approaches in the culture
Reinforce the changes by highlighting connections between new behaviors
and processes and organizational success. Develop methods to ensure leadership
development and succession.
We all play a role in making this happen leadership
sets the tone and everyone contributes. While it can be uncomfortable and
trying at times, change allows us to grow and venture into new territories that
may be foreign at first but quite rewarding in the end. When I switched over to
an iphone from a blackberry last year, it took me quite a while to get used to
a touch screen as I whined and moaned about it the whole time. Fast forward to
a year later, now I also have an ipad and am using several applications that
are allowing me to be more efficient and productive in my work.
Living in a global and multi-cultural economy as we do,
there has been tremendous change in how we work as well as how we learn. Most
organizations have employees, clients and other stakeholders throughout the
world who are working, communicating and collaborating daily to achieve
results. In higher education, the traditional models of learning have been
enhanced with virtual learning. When I first started as a Lecturer at
Northeastern University eight years ago, all the teaching was in a classroom.
Over the years, a hybrid model was introduced and ultimately a completely
virtual model. While I was resistant to these changes, I tried embracing them
and have learned to appreciate the model much more than I ever imagined. As a
matter of fact, most of the courses I have been teaching the past year have
been virtual which has enabled me to work with a diverse mix of students from
all over the world at any one time and the opportunity to engage every single
student in a lively dialogue which would not happen in a live classroom! Being
flexible and agile is important in order to grow and succeed.
Change is good
change is necessary
change is
progress! It's like Ben Franklin said, "Life is ten percent what you make it
and ninety percent how you take it." What can each individual do to play a
role in managing change? I have learned to ACT to effectively
deal with change and have coached individuals and teams to do so.
ACT now to
effectively deal with Change By: Rita B. Allen
Accept
and Acknowledge the
need for change
Communicate
with all parties involved in a pro-active manner to
Clarify and
Comprehend the process
required for the change to be implemented
Thrive
in the progress change brings
Throw yourself into
the change, keep an open mind,
Try new things,
Test different
approaches, Think
about impact on all, Teach others your learnings,
Tell all
One lesson that has been reinforced for me in working with
the incredible clients I've had an opportunity to partner with is the
importance of sincerity and authenticity. Most often, it is not the message
that impacts results but the delivery of that message. I have seen the huge
difference it makes when leaders are transparent, involve people in the change
and allow them to have a voice. A few good books I recommend are the
following:
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Switch, How to Change Things When Change
is Hard, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
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Results that Last, by Quint
Studer
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The 7 Levels of Change, Different
Thinking for Different Results, by Rolf Smith
Current Updates
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The market continues to be intriguing while
we see and hear different patterns emerge. I continue to see much demand within
the area of change management as well as talent management. Organizations
continue to be concerned about attracting, developing, engaging and retaining
top talent as a way of gaining and maintaining competitive advantage. This has
created a great deal of need for my areas of specialty which are
executive coaching, leadership development, management training and career
development. Most of my work this year has focused on the design,
development and delivery of these programs in addition to a high demand for
one-on-one executive coaching. It is inspiring to see all this activity in the
marketplace and I remain enthusiastic about the existing potential!
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One of the programs I will be offering again
in December is my half day
"Personal Branding and Marketing Yourself"
Workshop on the morning of December 9, 2011 at my offices in
Waltham.
Click here for more information.
Please be sure to visit my website at
www.ritaballenassociates.com
where you can see a sampling of additional topics for which I offer consulting
services, programs and workshops as well as my approach to coaching.
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I continue to be active in several
professional organizations and associations. One of those organizations for
which I was recently elected President is the Association of Career
Professionals International - New England, a network of career
professionals in the New England/Boston area offering connection, information
and development. "New England's Voice on Career Issues", ACPI-New England is
dedicated to developing the expertise of career professionals and organizations
through the promotion of professional and business development, networking and
best practices. We have an incredible calendar of events for the year featuring
a diverse mix of authors, thought leaders, panels and presentations. Check out
our website at www.acpi-ne.org for more details.
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Another organization that I am thrilled to
have an opportunity be involved with this year is More Than
Words, a non-profit which empowers youths who are in the foster care
system, court involved, homeless, or out of school to take charge of their
lives by taking charge of a business! MTW started in 2004 as a pilot online
bookselling venture with a few young men in state custody and then transitioned
to a vibrant storefront in 2005 and added café training program in 2008.
Youth ages 16-21 work as a team to manage their online and retail bookstore and
café as they gain skills and accountability while receiving intensive
support to map plans for their future. MTW sticks with youth for the long haul
with at least 24 months of follow up support. In addition to their site in
Waltham, they are about to open a 2nd site in Boston! Please consider joining
me and getting involved by donating books, CDs, DVDs, or volunteering your time
or expertise. To learn more, please visit their website at
www.MTWyouth.org.
Many thanks for your continued support, your business and
your referrals! I am grateful for another strong year and welcome the
opportunity to be of assistance and continue to provide a variety of talent
management consulting and coaching services. Please reach out and share some of
your updates, accomplishments and challenges! I look forward to hearing from
you!
Best Regards,
Rita B. Allen
Rita B. Allen Associates
| 460 Totten Pond Road, Suite 110
| Waltham, MA 02451 781-890-6803
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rita@ritaballenassociates.com
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www.ritaballenassociates.com
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